New Zealand to charge tourists up to S$30 for access to national parks

New Zealand will begin charging tourists up to NZ$40 (S$30) for visits to its most popular tourist spots such as Milford Track and Mount Cook.

Bloomberg reported that the fee is part of the country's efforts to help fuel economic growth.

In a speech on Aug. 2, New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, was quoted as saying:

“I have heard many times from friends visiting from overseas their shock that they can visit some of the most beautiful places in the world for free. It’s only fair that at these special locations, foreign visitors make an additional contribution of between NZ$20 (S$15) and NZ$40 per person.”

The money generated in revenue from the fees will come up to NZ$62 million (S$47.2 million) and will be re-invested in these locations, Luxon added.

The government will consider introducing the fee initially at Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Track and Mount Cook — sites where foreigners often make up 80 per cent of visitors.

When the fees would be introduced was not reported.

The sites will remain free for New Zealanders.

Proposal to charge tourists was put forth in November 2024

Earlier in November 2024, New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) proposed charging tourists for access to its national parks as part of a conversation on how to raise funds for the sustainable management of such sites.

The DOC is the leading government agency for conservation management of landscapes, nature and heritage.

According to Conservation Minister Tama Potaka at that time, it costs approximately NZ$2.3 (S$1.8) billion annually to maintain the ministry's biodiversity responsibilities nationwide.

Potaka also shared that the DOC had looked at case studies around the world, and noted that access fees are "widely used internationally to help maintain popular sites" in a sustainable manner.

Some of the case studies include Mount Fuji's entry fee charge for hikers, and a national pass system implemented in the United States for visiting national parks.

A document released by the ministry also stated that if access fees for both domestic and international tourists were to be charged at NZ$20 (S$15) and NZ$30 (S$23) respectively at five popular sites in New Zealand, an additional NZ$36 (S$28) to NZ$76 (S$59) million could be generated for conservation.

Top photo from Canva